Cork women win big on Winning Streak

Mon, 09 Mar, 2020 - 15:34

Sarah Horgan

A TOTAL of €79,000 was scooped by two Cork women during their appearance on the National Lottery Winning Streak TV game show last Saturday.

Mary McCarthy from Midelton spun the Winning Streak wheel and bagged a total of €54,000. Valerie Graham originally from Doneraile and now living in Bournemouth, England won a total of €25,000.

Mary McCarthy from Midleton, Co Cork has won €54,000 including a Car on last Saturday’s (7th March 2020) National Lottery Winning Streak Game Show. Her winning ticket was bought from Supervalu shop in Townspark, Midleton, Co. Cork. Pic: Mac Innes Photography

Mary McCarthy from Midelton was in the middle of housework when she got a call from her sister with news that her name had been selected for the show.

Mary and her husband John have four adult children (John Jnr, Joan, Yvonne and Sharon) and are grandparents to a total of eight grandchildren.

She hopes to buy a holiday with her winnings this summer and complete a few odd jobs around the house.

Valerie Graham from Bournemouth, England (originally from Doneraile, Co. Cork has won €25,000 on last Saturday’s (7th March 2020) National Lottery Winning Streak Game Show. Pictured here at the presentation of the winners cheques were from left to right: Marty Whelan Winning Streak co-host; Valerie Graham the winning player; Meabh Gleeson, the National Lottery and Nuala Carey, Winning Streak Game Show co-host. The winning ticket was bought from W & H O’Keeffe Ltd., Main Street, Mallow, Co. Cork. Pic: Mac Innes Photography.

Meanwhile, Cork native, Valerie Graham, who has lived in Bournemouth in the UK for the past 30 years, was at a friend’s 50th birthday party last weekend when she received a call from her family with news she had been selected for the show.

Her sister had previously joked that she would see her on Winning Streak after she bought a couple of scratch cards."

It was only later on that she realised that her prophecy had come true.

Valerie flew into Dublin last Friday, ahead of the show and was joined by excited family including husband Andy and kids Katie (17) and Sam (15).

Valerie moved to Bournemouth, originally to visit her brother, who was living there. She was persuaded to stay and work there for six months. 30 years on she is still living there. Also cheering her on from the audience on Saturday alongside were a number of siblings, including Carmel, and their mother Margaret.